Oscars Diversity Protest: 200 People & One “Hollywood Is The Synagogue Of Satan” Sign

The Rev. Al Sharpton put the industry on notice at an Oscar protest today that “this will be the last year of the all-white Oscars.” Speaking to a crowd of about 200 several blocks from the Oscars ceremony, the MSNBC host vowed that “next time we’re going to organize a lot longer and a lot stronger.”

He then led protesters on a march around the parking lot of the St. George Dental Clinic at the corner of Sunset and Highland, near the Dolby Theatre where the 88th Academy Awards are being handed out tonight.

Overall, the atmosphere was upbeat and celebratory, with organizers chanting “Show me what diversity looks like” against a hip-hop beat playing over a loud speaker. Across the street in front of the Chick-fil-A, a lone protester with a “Jesus Saves” banner shouted over a bullhorn that “Hollywood is the synagogue of Satan.”

Earlier in the day, Sharpton spoke at the First AME Church in Los Angeles. “There are no blacks who can greenlight a film,” he told the congregation. “We can put a black family in the White House, but we can’t put a black in the boardroom of power in Hollywood.”

This is ridiculous. Two years from Twelve Years a Slave. This is all because Will and Jada Smith are worried that his career is faltering. Concussion was not good and the performance had a phony “Oscar grab” all over it.

My sentiments exactly. One year without a black nominee and all of a sudden the industry is racist despite many black actors having been nominated and/or winning in previous years. It should be about the quality of a performance, not about filling a quota. Maybe Jada should face the fact that maybe her husband just isn’t worthy and is only good at playing himself.

Pedro • on Feb 28, 2016 6:32 pm

If there was ever a year without a white nominee, all hell would break loose.

If we ever had a year when whites quit going to the box office the movie industry would no longer exist.

KJ • on Feb 28, 2016 4:35 pm

Not to mention that Will has never put a black director on any of his films. I wish someone in the media would have the balls to ask him why he has never given a brother or sister a director job on one of his films.

Does this non-relevant individual understand that the Academy Awards is about excellence in film? It’s not a popularity contest, or an award show to make everyone feel loved and extraordinary. There are nominees, there are winners, and there are losers. And lest we forget, there are hundreds of films that are never considered for nomination because they just don’t meet the standards of excellence that the Academy demand for recognition.

Excellence and quality will always move voting Academy members to nominate a film or individual. But let’s remember, no one’s guaranteed anything, ever.

I might suggest that Al Sharpton involve himself in something that he has knowledge about. Ohhhh, what does he do? We know h oesnt pay his income taxes because the IRS has been after him for years to pay MILLIONS in back taxes. And we know he’s not a ‘preacher’ because it’s Sunday and I don’t see a Bible in his hands…….Leave Hollywood to those who know the industry, Al. These aren’t the NAACP Awards — folks here EARN their awards, there’s no ‘participation’ statue for everyone.

Oh, and Jada Smith…..except for projects that you and Will fund, your career is over darling. You’re true nature has been revealed, you’re a racist and a separatist. Enjoy the rest of your, already, non-existent career.

Incredulous • on Feb 28, 2016 4:29 pm

I couldn’t agree with you more Jack. I personally know and like Will, and generally respect him, as he’s been very straight with me and has kept his word in our dealings, but I don’t really think this has anything to do with Will. I think this all Jada, looking for attention. JL and Will do not make political statements as a matter of principle. The dilemma here is that Jada ran her sour and bitter mouth publicly, and Will was forced to back her, reluctantly. I actually feel bad for him, because this simply is not his style or class level. He would have never made these statements publicly were it not for her stupidity…

Anonymous • on Feb 29, 2016 12:49 pm

I totally agree with you Incredulous. This was all Jada and from the comments I watched Will making, it sounded like he felt like he had to back her. I think he would have went if she hadn’t started running her mouth. Never did care for her.

chris • on Feb 28, 2016 4:30 pm

will Smith will NEVER deserve an oscar — cause he cant act worth crap!

I have always said that people should be hired for employment based on qualifications and not race. Seems that the same criteria should be applied to minorities today. I remember when this started in the early 1970s where the Department of Defence directive was that 25% of employees had to be minorities. During that time the only class of people considered minorities were black. As a result the government ended up with unqualified people because of the quotas that had to be filled. Fast forward to the present, there appears to be a sense of entitlement because you are black. I still feel the same way. If the actors/actresses deserve a nomination, it should be based on performance and not on color. Ever since the problem with the shooting in Illinois, I believe, there is a sense of entitlement among the black population.

bootcamp808 • on Feb 28, 2016 4:58 pm

When I was in the Army in 1973. I was in a large lounge watching the Oscars with a group of soldiers. That year Dianna Ross was nominated for best actress for her performance in The Lady Sings the Blues. When she lost to Liza Minnelli’s role in Cabaret, a group of black soldiers stood up and started throwing chairs, quickly causing the group to scatter from the room. It was an honor to be nominated, They should have looked at it from the bright side. Maybe next time. Al Sharpton is going at this all wrong. Makes me wonder if he was one of those black soldiers.

Sam • on Feb 28, 2016 5:18 pm

I used to be a will smith fan and I can’t even stand to look at jada. I’m a minority but I don’t want to win or be nominated based on the color of my skin. You cannot say that there was a racist motivation here– it’s the studios who should be making more movies with minorities, you cannot blame the academy who has rewarded black actors in the past. Now all future minorities are tarnished

Wake up! Racial, gender, sexual orientation, and age discrimination is alive and well in Hollywood, which is fairly representative of our society as a whole. Bringing it to the attention of the public on occasions such as this is not only acceptable, but wholly warranted.

In the years since Lord of the Rings the only best picture winner to impress me was Argo. The rest, including your beloved Birdman, is crap. Oscars award BEST CAMPAIGN not BEST PICTURE. This SHAM has relevance this year only because of Mad Max, DiCaprio, and Jada Smith’s mouth.

Racism? The Last three best directors are minorities. No, it’s elitist Academy snobbery running amok again. (The same pissy attitude nominated The Reader over Dark Knight, awarded 12 Years a Slave over Gravity and snubbed Ridley for The Martian).

Even worse, voters hold career referendums on high profile actors and directors. “Will Smith blows up aliens! F&&k him!” Sam Jackson – “Star Wars prequels? F&&k him too!” Look how long Pacino and Scorsese waited. Leo’s in the hot seat now. God knows if Chris Nolan or Ridley Scott will ever win. And Miller’s getting thrown under the war-rig to show “HOW DIVERSE WE ARE NOW.”

Jada makes a call and the kids get agents instantly. Beyonce rents a mansion for $10,000 a night. Ah, affluent black “rage.” They got more in common with Trump or Paris Hilton than a black boy at a crumbling Detroit school.

The Academy will still vote like snobs. (“I’ll just remember a black guy once in a while so I don’t get yelled at. Oy!”) For the minorities, every award, beginning with the overrated ass, Inarritu, is now stained with controversy. Was the award earned? Or given to appease diversity quotas?

I don’t give a shit. I got The Walking Dead on tonight.

Charles Franklin • on Feb 28, 2016 5:52 pm

Brother Al Sharpton has had quite a career trying to be the “Next” Dr. Martin Luther King Junior. You could say that it is almost Oscar- worthy. Almost. He looks old, and tired, but he is still good for a headline, every now and then. When the old hustler is dead, he will probably have a few streets named after him. Maybe. Maybe not.

You actually have to do something of note to deserve a nomination. The only one worthy this year was Idris Elba, he got jobbed because of the Netflix connection. The rest were not worthy from a professional sense. Will Smith was wooden and is a lousy dramatic actor with a very bad fake african accent. The movie, which is a valid indictment of the NFL, was up against the # 1 entertainment venue in the world, the NFL. Politics again. Creed is a Rocky sequel, plain and simple. No one, including Stallone, deserved any nominations for it. Straight Outta Compton is about the most violent part of a sleazy industry. Just because it sold a lot of tickets doesn’t mean it deserves any nominations. If that was the case, Star Wars or the Chinese film The Mermaid would have won every award out there.
If you want to win awards do something of note, and not just about the black experience, about all people. And don’t bring up Ana Du Vernay, the “indie darling”, which in tradespeak is “not ready for prime time”. She did a horrible job on Selma, it was filmed very poorly and was just a tired rehash of a pivotal time in our history. A really good, honest documentary would have honored Dr. King much better. Plus she likes to take liberties with the truth of history, as we have seen. She would do better to take a class from all the great Hispanic, Asian and Indian directors in order to be someone to be recognized as a first-rate talent. She has a lot to learn.
And for all the artistically challenged out there #ItsAboutCraftNotQuotas !
And we all know Big Head Al is only out for another extortion payday.

It just proves once again, that pandering to race or sex, will only do harm then good. Al not so Sharpton ain’t Martin Luther King, Jr. who said “I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character” Take that to the bank, Al not so Sharpton. You can’t buy talent.

I give up…they already have their own black awards shows and music award shows …Spanish people don’t complain ..they learned the language took the lousy jobs for years now they are the plumping, building contractors they are the nurses and Dr.s and candle stick makers they keep their families in tack it’s time African Americans look inward at themselves. They want their own language well then go find the country that it is spoken in and move there. My grandson and granddaughter are part African American and I don’t want them growing up in a world of ‘ I am owed something mentality’. Get off your butts sacrifice a generation by taking the McDonald jobs and then in fifteen years you will be like the Spanish people – managers – owners. For those African Americans trying hard – keep going after your dreams and learn from the Spanish. By the way in about thirty years there will be no more white people for you to guilt trip they will be mostly Spanish and they are just going to say..’Hey we have only been here fifty years where you are is not our fault”.

Al Sharpton sure got his priorities right once again. While in LA and the KKK rallies and 4 people are killed, he organizes a protest against little gold statues and white people giving each other bling. Go Al!